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Marc Parenteau will be most pleased if nobody mentions his name Sunday.

If that happens, it probably means the Argonauts’ offence is having a pretty succesful day.

While quarterbacks Ricky Ray and Anthony Calvillo are in the headlines most days, chances are that Sunday’s East final will be won along the offensive and defensive line. Control the line of scrimmage, and a team normally controls the scoreboard as well.

“It’s always been that way,” said the Argonauts’ guard, in charge of giving Ray enough time to find receivers such as Chad Owens or Dontrelle Inman.

The Alouettes have dominated the East, going to the Grey Cup eight times since 2000. But this year they were not the dominant force that the Argonauts have become used to running into — such as in the 48-17 loss Montreal inflicted in 2010. The defence has looked vulnerable at times, particularly against the pass. But they are still second in the CFL against the rush and the Montreal defence had 42 sacks — just five behind B.C.’s league-best of 47.

So, it will be up to Parenteau & Co. to keep the likes of Chip Cox, Alan Michael Cash and Luc Mullinder off Ray’s back. And, the Alouettes play defence like they’ve had Houdini as their coach. You know; now you see them — and, then you don’t.

“They have really good players. But more than that they don’t stand still, they move around, twist, they shift late to different formations. So being on the same page as five lineman is going to be important,” said Parenteau.

Alouettes defensive coordinator Jeff Reinebold tries to confuse offences with a dizzying array of schemes. “All the interior guys are pretty interchangeable,” Parenteau said, “so you have guys moving inside out ... and from the outside in.

So, one second Parenteau could be looking at a defensive end, the next a tackle and suddenly someone is blitzing.

“You really have to concentrate on making sure you know who you’ve got on a specific play because all of a sudden they twist away and you have to pick up somebody else,” Parenteau said.

Toronto’s offensive line allowed 36 sacks, fourth in the CFL. That’s not bad for a unit that basically came together just this year. But Ray was hurried, harrassed, and hit after the play, far too often. The Alouettes defence will be trying to do all those things.

“Their success is built on their schemes,” Parenteau said. “They want players that can move and twist so they’re not going to let slugs in there that can’t move around. In that sense, last week, we played a team (Edmonton) that wants to rush us straight up. They just try to beat you up. This team can do that, but most of the time they move around and try to confuse you and get someone in for free. That’s been really succesful for them.”

PINBALL INSPIRES

The Argonauts heard the gospel according to Pinball Friday.

Toronto’s vice-chairman and inspirational leader, Michael Clemons, dropped by the final practice at Rogers Centre, as the team prepared for Sunday’s East Final, and delivered some words of encouragement.

“He just happened to stop by practice I asked if he wouldn’t mind saying a few words,” said head coach Scott Milanovich.

Clemons had the players chanting and cheering during his five-minute address, just out of earshot of the media. It ended with the players’ shouting in unison: The message, according to quarterback Ricky Ray, was that when the water gets too deep “just keep on strokin’”.

Clemons won three Grey Cups as a player and one more as an Argonauts’ coach. The players seem to buy into his emotional addresses. The last time he spoke, the Argonauts came out and beat Winnipeg 29-10.

“He’s just a special guy,” said defensive lineman, Kevin Huntley. “I wasn’t here when he was coaching ... but he makes you feel like you can do anything you want to do. All you have to do is decide you want to do it.”

HUNTLEY HATES ‘EM!

“None of these guys are my favourite. Any team I play against are the most dispicable human beings I’ve met in my life.”

So says Argonauts’ defensive lineman, Kevin Huntley.

Nothing personal against the Alouettes, but Huntley — Toronto’s 6-foot-8, 300 pound defensive tackle — thinks it's about time he evened the score. On second thought, maybe it is personal. Huntley felt the Alouettes ran up the score in the East final in 2010. Last year he threatened to dump receiver Jamel Richardson on his head, claiming Montreal used chop blocks.

“It’s not necessarily hatred. That’s too strong a word. But we’re big rivals, like the Redskins-Cowboys; 49ers-Raiders. That kind of thing.”

Huntley’s main concern will be disrupting Anthony Calvillo’s passing lanes, if not out-right hitting him.

“Even if we can just get him to take his eyes off his reads for a half second with our talented DBs it would be a tough day for him. That’s my job. I don’t have any numbers but I think I’ve sacked Anthony Calvillo more than any quarterback except Henry Burris.”

So what about Richardson?

“I think he’s a cool guy,” said Huntley, “when he’s not wearing pads. But the thing is Sunday he’s going to be IN pads, IN uniform.”